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adj A2 Elementary Uncommon

windy

WIHN-dee

Windy (adj) means marked by strong or noticeable wind. Example: “It was too windy to fly the kite properly.”

adj
1
Marked by strong or noticeable wind.
"It was too windy to fly the kite properly."
"Chicago is nicknamed the Windy City."
2
Overly long-winded or wordy in speech or writing.
"His windy speech went on for nearly an hour."

How to use windy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBlowing hard outside, or, of a person, prone to rambling on and on.

Common pairings
a windy day windy speech

Word forms

windier comparative, windier comparative, windies plural, windiest superlative, windiest superlative

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Test yourself on “windy” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

It was too _____ to fly the kite properly.

Etymology

From Old English windiġ, simply wind + the adjective suffix -y.

Origin: Old English

blustery gusty breezy wordy long-winded

Related words

Rhymes for windy

See all rhymes for windy →

Frequently asked questions

What does “windy” mean?

The word “windy” means marked by strong or noticeable wind. In plain terms, blowing hard outside, or, of a person, prone to rambling on and on.

How do you pronounce “windy”?

“Windy” is pronounced WIHN-dee (/ˈwɪn.di/ in IPA).

How do you use “windy” in a sentence?

Here is “windy” used in a sentence: “It was too windy to fly the kite properly.”

What part of speech is “windy”?

“Windy” is an adjective.

Where does the word “windy” come from?

The word “windy” comes from Old English. From Old English windiġ, simply wind + the adjective suffix -y.

Is “windy” a common word?

“Windy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “windy” have?

“Windy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: marked by strong or noticeable wind.

What is the difference between windy weather and a windy speaker?

Windy weather describes conditions marked by strong or noticeable wind, while calling a speaker or piece of writing windy means it is overly long-winded or wordy. The two senses share the idea of excess, whether of moving air or of words.

What is the opposite of windy in the weather sense?

The opposite of windy weather would be calm or still conditions, where there is little or no noticeable wind.

Is calling someone's speech windy a compliment or a criticism?

Calling speech or writing windy is a criticism, implying it is overly long-winded or wordy rather than concise and to the point.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial